Frances Shani Parker, Michigan author of Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes (paperback, e-book), writes this blog. Topics include news, practices, research, poems, stories, and interviews. Images and videos are used often. Hospice and palliative care, nursing homes, dementia, caregiving, death, bereavement, and older adults are among topics examined. In the top right column, you can search for various topics of interest to you on this blog.

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Saturday, July 12, 2014

Little is known about disabled
older adults who live independently during their daily living experiences. For
that reason, a national study on older adult disabilities was done. Participants over age 50 were
interviewed once at various times during their last 24 months of life in order
to calculate the prevalence of national disabilities estimates. A disability
was defined as a need for help with at least one of the following daily
activities: dressing, bathing, eating, transferring, walking across the room,
and using the toilet. The following results were
determined with 8,232 participants:

The prevalence of
disability increased from 28% two years before death to 56% in the last month
of life.

Those who died at
the oldest ages were much more likely to have disability two years before
death.

Disability was
more common in women two years before death.

Those who live to an older age are likely to be disabled and in need of caregiving assistance many months or years before death. The
following video based on the award-winnning documentary titled “Dominick and
Margaret” features the perspectives of a disabled man and woman. These two have
made great strides in maintaining their independence and in encouraging others
who are disabled to do the same:

1 comment:

Great video, Its nice to see a depiction of the disabled that shows them as still being able to be independent. Just because a person is disabled in some way doesn't mean there isn't a lot that they can still do and a lot of copy strategies they can employ.

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About Me

My name is Frances Shani Parker. An eldercare consultant, writer, hospice volunteer, and former school principal, I am author of Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes (paperback and e-book editions).

Becoming Dead Right is the captivating account of my hospice volunteer insights and experiences in Detroit, Michigan nursing homes. Stories, general information, and poems explore hospice care, urban nursing homes, caregiving, dementia, death, and bereavement. Strategies for improving healthcare and nursing homes are examined. While universal, this book includes the often-missing voices of people of color and others in urban nursing homes.

This groundbreaking book has several national endorsements and excellent reviews. Available from numerous online and offline booksellers, you can get more information at my website: http://www.francesshaniparker.com.